Hi - I have a 1991 Eunos Roadster V-Spec auto (I know, I know, that’s what I wanted). As far as I’m aware the overdrive function is like a pseudo fifth gear and designed to be engaged at “high-speed” driving. Why then does the MX5 give me a warning light when O-D is NOT engaged? This implies that it should be engaged as a matter of course and that if I dis-engage it I should be warned. Should I have O-D active at all times or just cruising at higher speeds? Ta
Engage it and forget about it
lots of older jap car and 4x4s have this functionality and as far as i can see and have experienced i dont see the point in it
Hi
as above, I have always have OD engaged on my auto
The idea is to disengage when driving in built up areas so it doesn’t larbor in to higher gear. Also handy to disengage when approaching roundabouts, slower corners so when you excelerate out your already in the appropriate gear .
If you have left it with overdrive enabled, does it not automatically drop out of overdrive when you floor it?
I wish I had the luxury of this dilemma. I always feel my 5 speed NC could do with another taller gear when cruising on the motorway (bearing in mind that its top gear is already an ‘overdrive’).
Back in the 1950s and 1960s I remember that overdrive was a frequent option on the bigger (RWD) cars, and made a big difference to the fuel economy. On most of them it used an automatic (electrical or hydraulic) switch to make it available on the top two gears over 30mph. Some had a manual switch which enabled it on any gear at any speed. Some of the overdrives also included a free-wheel option but I cannot remember if it was only below 30mph or above 30mph, again as a fuel economy trick. My Dads old Morris Isis had the Borg-Warner overdrive with the 30mph features and the free-wheel. One of the Mk2 Jags I co-owned used the Laycack-DeNormanville system, but that was always stuck in overdrive and never responded to the kick-down.
Yes my auto will kick down when accelerating
I will try disengaging on roundabouts & corners